Australian Charity complaints average 12 a week

A report released by the ACNC this month has revealed 1300 complaints have been received over the past two years.

The Charity Compliance Report: December 2012 – December 2014 and Beyond has shown that, since the establishment of the charity regulator in December 2012, the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) has received an average of 12 complaints a week.

The ACNC reveals that while they take all complaints seriously, only 96 complaints were escalated to become the focus of a compliance investigation. ACNC Commissioner Susan Pascoe AM has explained that this is because the majority of charities want to do the right thing, and can be put back on track with education and guidance.

“When a complaint is raised with the ACNC about a charity’s operations, we look into all of the relevant circumstances,” Ms Pascoe said.

“However, where there is evidence of serious mismanagement or misappropriation, a serious, persistent or deliberate breach of the ACNC Act, or where vulnerable people or significant charitable assets are at risk, the ACNC will act firmly and quickly.

“We are committed to protecting public trust and confidence in charities. Effective regulation is critical in supporting and sustaining a robust, vibrant, independent and innovative charitable sector,” Ms Pascoe said.

While security provisions in the ACNC act prevent the organisation from revealing specific details of investigations, they have shared the most common causes for complaint, including inappropriate use of resources, potential fraud and a lack of transparency.